Iran warns US: Regional bases are ‘legitimate targets’ if Trump launches airstrikes

Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Sunday that Tehran is prepared to retaliate against U.S. military assets across the Middle East if President Donald Trump moves forward with threatened airstrikes on the Islamic Republic.

In a high-stakes interview with CBS News, Araghchi asserted that while Iran lacks the capability to strike the American mainland, it would treat U.S. regional bases as "legitimate targets" for its missile arsenal.

"If the US attacks us, then we have every right to defend ourselves. If the US attacks us, that is the act of aggression. What we do in response is an act of self-defence," Araghchi said. "It is justified, legitimate. So our missiles cannot hit the American soil. So obviously, we have to do something else. We have to hit, you know, the American base in the region."

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Diplomatic Path Still Open

Despite the bellicose rhetoric, Araghchi signalled that a breakthrough in the nuclear standoff remains possible. Speaking from Geneva, where he is expected to meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff later this week, the foreign minister indicated that negotiators are actively drafting a potential agreement to de-escalate the crisis.

"I believe that still there is a good chance to have a diplomatic solution which is based on a win-win game," Araghchi said, noting that both sides are currently "working on the elements of a deal and draft of the text."

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Defiance on Enrichment

The central sticking point in the negotiations remains Iran's uranium enrichment program. The Trump administration has maintained a "zero enrichment" policy, while Tehran continues to view the program as a cornerstone of its national sovereignty.

Araghchi remained firm on this point during the interview, dismissing U.S. demands to dismantle the country's nuclear infrastructure. "As a sovereign country, we have every right to decide for ourselves, by ourselves," he stated.

The diplomatic push comes as the Pentagon reportedly realigns its posture in the region, moving air defence systems and maintaining a carrier presence at sea to protect against potential Iranian retaliation. While Trump has publicly offered a 10-day window for a deal, Araghchi’s comments suggest that any agreement will require a "logical timetable" for the lifting of economic sanctions, a demand the U.S. has yet to fully meet.

With inputs from AFP